DUP leader Arlene Foster has said she would prefer no deal to a bad deal on Brexit, fearing the current proposals would permanently annex Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Writing in the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, Ms Foster also said she wanted a deal that would work for the Republic of Ireland and said she would travel to Dublin for talks on Monday.

British and European Union negotiators this month have accelerated the push for a Brexit deal but talks remain snagged on the issue of the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Irish Republic, an EU member state.

In the absence of a comprehensive EU-UK trade partnership after Brexit, the EU is seeking a "backstop" arrangement whereby Northern Ireland would effectively remain subject to the bloc's regulations to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

But the DUP, whose support May needs to pass legislation in the British parliament, vehemently opposes any proposals under which the province would be treated differently to the rest of the UK.

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I fully appreciate the risks of a 'no deal' Brexit but the dangers of a bad deal are worse

DUP leader Arlene Foster

She said: ”I fully appreciate the risks of a 'no deal' Brexit but the dangers of a bad deal are worse.

"This backstop arrangement would not be temporary. It would be the permanent annexation of Northern Ireland away from the rest of the United Kingdom and forever leave us subject to rules made in a place where we have no say.”

She added: “This is no game. Anyone engaging in this in a light-hearted way foolishly fails to grasp the gravity of the decisions we will make in the coming weeks.

"The coming days, weeks and months will be critical. The decisions taken will shape the type of Northern Ireland that our grandchildren will live in."

Arlene Foster has said no deal is better than a bad deal (Image: GETTY)

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA also urged Mrs May prove her unionist credentials.

She said: “I believe that the Prime Minister is in her own beliefs a committed unionist.

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Ms Foster also urged Theresa May to prove her unionist credentials (Image: GETTY)

“We want her to stand by her principles and instincts rather than accepting a dodgy deal foisted on her by others.”

British and European Union negotiators this month have accelerated the push for a Brexit deal

However, talks remain snagged on the issue of the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Irish Republic, an EU member state.

In the absence of a comprehensive EU-UK trade partnership after Brexit, the EU is seeking a "backstop" arrangement whereby Northern Ireland would effectively remain subject to the bloc's regulations to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Jacob Rees-Mogg is among those vehemently opposed to the backstop idea (Image: GETTY)

But the DUP, whose support May needs to pass legislation in the British parliament, vehemently opposes any proposals under which the province would be treated differently to the rest of the UK.

Britain wants any 'backstop' arrangement to be time-limited.

Hardline supporters such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg fear it could be used to keep the whole UK inside a customs union indefinitely with the EU.